Cutting tool assembly including retainer sleeve with compression band

Abstract

A cutting tool assembly for mounting in a bore of a holder includes a cutting tool having a head, a shank and a collar therebetween having an axially rearward surface that defines an annular channel adjacent an axially forward end of the shank. The assembly also includes a retainer sleeve substantially surrounding the shank and defining a slot that extends from an axial forward end to an axial rearward end of the retainer sleeve. The retainer sleeve is compressible between an expanded state and a compressed state. The assembly further includes a compression band removably attached to the retainer sleeve. The compression band in a first position is attached to the retainer sleeve and compresses the retainer sleeve to the compressed state and in a second position is not attached to the retainer sleeve and the retainer sleeve is in the expanded state.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cutting tool assembly for mounting in a bore of a holder, the cutting tool assembly comprising:
 a cutting tool having a head portion, a shank portion and a collar portion therebetween, the collar portion having an axially rearward surface that defines an annular channel adjacent an axially forward end of the shank portion; 
 a retainer sleeve substantially surrounding the shank portion, the retainer sleeve defining a slot that extends from an axial forward end to an axial rearward end of the retainer sleeve, wherein the retainer sleeve is resilient and compressible between an expanded state and a compressed state; and 
 a compression band removably attached to the retainer sleeve, wherein the compression band in a first position is attached to the retainer sleeve and compresses the retainer sleeve to the compressed state and in a second position is not attached to the retainer sleeve, wherein the compression band has a top rounded portion and a chamfered portion adjacent the top rounded portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein in the second position the compression band is received at least partially in the annular channel. 
     
     
       3. The cutting tool assembly of  claim 2 , wherein in the first position the compression band is circumferentially disposed about an outer surface of the retainer sleeve. 
     
     
       4. The cutting tool assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the compression band is configured to be slidable from the axial rearward end of the retainer sleeve to the annular channel. 
     
     
       5. The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the compression band is generally circular. 
     
     
       6. The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the compression band has an inner diameter that is less than an outside diameter of the retainer sleeve in the expanded state. 
     
     
       7. The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the compression band includes a friction reducing coating. 
     
     
       8. The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the compression band is formed of carbide, ceramic, coated ferrous or non-ferrous metals, thermoplastics or hard rubber elastomers. 
     
     
       9. The cutting tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rearward surface of the collar portion is beveled toward an axially forward end of the collar portion. 
     
     
       10. The cutting tool assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the rearward surface of the collar portion is beveled at an angle in the range of about 3 degrees to about 5 degrees from a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cutting tool. 
     
     
       11. A tool assembly, comprising:
 a holder having a front face that defines a longitudinal bore extending at least partially through the holder; 
 a cutting tool having a head portion, a shank portion and a collar portion therebetween, the collar portion having an axially rearward surface that defines an annular channel adjacent an axially forward end of the shank portion; 
 a retainer sleeve substantially surrounding the shank portion and configured for being removably received in the longitudinal bore of the holder, the retainer sleeve defining a slot that extends from an axial forward end to an axial rearward end of the retainer sleeve, wherein the retainer sleeve is resilient and compressible between an expanded state and a compressed state; and 
 a compression band removably attached to the retainer sleeve, wherein the compression band in a first position is attached to the retainer sleeve and compresses the retainer sleeve to the compressed state and in a second position is not attached to the retainer sleeve, wherein the compression band has a top rounded portion and a chamfered portion adjacent the top rounded portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The tool assembly of  claim 11 , wherein in the second position the compression band is received at least partially in the annular channel. 
     
     
       13. The tool assembly of  claim 12 , wherein in the first position the compression band is circumferentially disposed about an outer surface of the retainer sleeve. 
     
     
       14. The tool assembly of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the compression band engages the front face of the holder. 
     
     
       15. The tool assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the retainer sleeve has an outer diameter in the expanded state that is greater than a diameter of the longitudinal bore. 
     
     
       16. The tool assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the rearward surface of the collar is beveled toward an axially forward end of the collar portion. 
     
     
       17. The tool assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the collar portion substantially covers the front face of the holder. 
     
     
       18. The tool assembly of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the rearward surface of the collar portion engages the front face of the holder. 
     
     
       19. A cutting tool assembly for mounting in a bore of a holder, the cutting tool assembly comprising:
 a cutting tool having a head portion, a shank portion and a collar portion therebetween, the collar portion having an axially rearward surface that defines an annular channel adjacent an axially forward end of the shank portion, wherein the rearward surface of the collar portion is beveled toward an axially forward end of the collar portion at an angle in the range of about 3 degrees to about 5 degrees from a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cutting tool; 
 a retainer sleeve substantially surrounding the shank portion, the retainer sleeve defining a slot that extends from an axial forward end to an axial rearward end of the retainer sleeve, wherein the retainer sleeve is resilient and compressible between an expanded state and a compressed state; and 
 a compression band removably attached to the retainer sleeve, wherein the compression band in a first position is attached to the retainer sleeve and compresses the retainer sleeve to the compressed state and in a second position is not attached to the retainer sleeve.